Welcoming a new neighbor

What, if anything, have you given to a new neighbor as a "welcome" token?
(or received if you are the new person)

Would you be grossed out it someone baked you cookies? They have young children.

Thanks.....

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

We got our new neighbors a plant as a welcome to the neighborhood. They seemed very appreciative.

I think anything you give (especially something homemade!) would be appreciated. People just want to see a smiling face and know that their neighbors are friendly.

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

I wouldnt be grossed out, I would be extremely appreciative if someone made me cookies..... we were the new neighbors this year and around thanksgiving we made a little "thank you for helping us out so much this year" basket for our closest neighbors

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

Flowers & plants or maybe a welcome mat.

Personally, we would not eat anything from a person we did not know so the cookies would go in the trash and we'd send a nice thank you note saying how great they were.

Our office holiday party was going to be pot luck until I reminded the committee that many people I know, myself included, would not eat something out of the kitchen of a person they did not know VERY well. Not that restaurants are completely safe either but at least they are subject to health codes.

Not really related to welcoming a neighbor but one thing my mom does with respect to giving people food items as gifts is to send over something from a caterer.

Message edited 1/6/2007 11:12:42 PM.

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

ok good, I am making some cookies now and muffins in the morning.

It just got me thinking if someone might feel weird eating something a complete stranger made them.

The plant is a good idea too!

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

So far, we haven't had any new neighbors to welcome, but, when we were new, about a month after we moved in, my next door neighbor had us over for dinner and I thought that was so nice and welcoming.

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

I don't eat anything homemade from a kitchen unless I know the person well. I've seen how some people live and well,

We bought the disaster/weirdo family house in our neighborhood. Our neighbors were very glad to see them go and welcomed us with open arms.

We received a nice basket of kindling and scented pine cones for our fireplace from our neighbors across the street, several bottles of wine, my next door neighbor offered us his extensive tool collection and helped DH put in the new mailbox.

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

We received brownies and cookies, and both were much appreciated. We had no problem eating them - but all of our neighbors are very normal!

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

I would really appreciate cookies or muffins from a neighbor if I was a new resident - how thoughtful of you!

When we moved here we really weren't welcomed by many (other than a quick hello right after we moved) so any effort on your part would be appreciated I think

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

I was the chairperson of our homeowner's association's welcoming commitee for two years. We decided against homebaked items, the things we gave were pies from Briermere, small house plants, mums in the fall and other stuff depending on the season & how much the board voted to spend at the time.
I have neighbors that I give homemade food to all the time from us personally.
My neighbors across the street plow my driveway, I bake them fresh muffins & bring them over while they are warm. I give their dogs rawhides sometimes too.
I also give my surrounding neighbors fresh eggs from my chickens.
When we moved in we didn't get anything, but everyone was very nice.
Even if your neighbors were the kind of people uncomfortable about eating homemade stuff, your gesture would still be highly regarded I'm sure.

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

I remember when my parents moved into their old house years ago and it was in the summer. The neighbors were so friendly they actually came over and helped us unpack the moving truck.

I think they may have given a plant or something.

What about a nice little candle basket from Yankee Candle?

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

I recieved a tray of cookies from a bakery from one neighbor and a bottle of wine from another.

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

WOw! Some of you have or are very nice neighbors. When we moved in this summer we didn't receive any welcome gifts. One person came by to introduce herself , but since then she and her husband aren't very friendly. We really haven't gotten to know many people yet. Some people won't even look at me to say hello! maybe when the weather is warmer...although we did move in this past summer

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

We got a basket of different plants. It was very nice.

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

No one got us anything when we moved in.....so I would have appreciated anything!

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

Anything you do to welcome someone is so nice and should be appreciated. As others said though some people would not eat the cookies or whatever - I wouldnt eat them if I didnt know the person but I would always remember the gesture.

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

As someone who just moved into a new house I was so taken back with how wonderful my neighbors were. DH and I received bottles of champagne, wine, cookies, and a beautiful plant basket delivered from a local florist. I would definitely offer some sort of gesture!

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

i think that is so nice. i hope our new neighbors do that for us.

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

Our next door neighbor bought us cake from a bakery. She asked us what our favorite cake was and 2 days later she showed up with a box.

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

I don't know that I would be grossed out by someone else's baked goods, but I probably wouldn't eat a perfect stranger's cooking. I don't know... I guess I am weird.

Re: Welcoming a new neighbor

Our neighbors didn't do anything but introduce themselves. I always thought that when you move into a new house someone bakes you an apple pie or something LOL...
Now that I think of it - I think I'd rather have something store bought than homemade - you don't know them that well yet, right?


I think I might do that for any new neighbors we may get.